Tag: CALA Homes (East)

CALA partners with Tom Kitchin for show home cook-along

KITCHENS within one of Edinburgh’s most high-profile developments are getting the ultimate grilling thanks to a partnership with renowned Michelin-star chef, Tom Kitchin.

In celebration of local producers and the reopening of Edinburgh’s vibrant hospitality scene, Tom is collaborating with CALA Homes (East) on a live event at its Boroughmuir development in the city.

The Masterchef judge regular will be hosting a cook-along at the housebuilder’s recently opened second showhome on 7th May, using ingredients locally-sourced from his favourite suppliers in the city, and showing how home cooks can replicate the magic of his restaurant dishes.

On the menu is salmon fillet, sourced from Welch fishmongers at Newhaven served with spring peas and broad beans. The full recipe will be shared ahead of the event for budding home chefs and followers to easily follow along on the day. 

Chef Kitchin, Scotland’s youngest winner of a Michelin star and Chef Proprietor of four businesses across Edinburgh and East Lothian (The Kitchin, The Scran & Scallie, The Bonnie Badger & Southside Scran), believes the partnership is the perfect opportunity to showcase the best of Scottish produce and hospitality as the industry reopens.

He said: “Edinburgh has a fantastic hospitality scene and it’s great to do something fun and a bit different to celebrate the reopening of restaurants, bars and pubs across the country.

“The invite from CALA is a fantastic opportunity to try out the kitchens at Boroughmuir, while giving home cooks a challenge to replicate the quality of a restaurant meal at home.

“The CALA kitchens have an incredible specification and look like the perfect setting for getting creative, so I’m excited to visit and try everything out.”

Chef Kitchin will be cooking in the development’s showhome kitchen which has been designed by Kitchens International and is fully equipped with integrated Siemens appliances throughout, including an induction hob, fridge-freezer, black glass and stainless steel oven, and combination microwave oven.

Philip Hogg, Sales and Marketing Director with CALA Homes (East), said: “It’s a real honour to have Scotland’s most renowned chef cooking in a CALA kitchen – we’re thrilled to have him showcase how you can create a restaurant-quality dish from home.

“Since we welcomed our first residents late last year, we’ve heard a lot of great feedback on our kitchens, so we wanted to showcase and celebrate that, as well as local produce and hospitality, as best we could.”

To join the cook-along, follow @calahomes on Instagram or Facebook and tune in to the live stream from 5pm on 7th May or search for the dedicated hashtag, #TheKitchinAtCALA

CALA goes to town with Leith waterfront homes

A MODERN reimagining of the city townhouse has been launched to the market at a sought-after Leith development.

Comprising plenty of flexible space set across three levels, The Brae townhouse by CALA Homes (East) is the latest housetype to be launched by the developer at its popular Waterfront Plaza development.

Designed with city professionals, growing families and downsizers in mind, its carefully created layout can be adapted to cater for different and evolving needs, while also providing all the extra room needed for visiting family and friends.

With the first two of these three bedroom townhouses now available for reservation, priced at £495,000 and £500,000 respectively, CALA also plan to launch a townhouse showhome in late summer/early autumn; this will initially be able to be viewed virtually from the comfort of your own home, until it is deemed safe to host private appointments.

At the start of the lockdown it also launched its Remote Reservations service, which has proven popular in enabling buyers to confidently secure their new dream home from the comfort of their current home, with the fee fully refundable. Buyers can also opt to use the developer’s other helpful services such as its Part Exchange or Guaranteed Buyer services.

Philip Hogg, Sales and Marketing Director with CALA Homes (East), said: “There is a real community building at Waterfront Plaza – and that is owing in part to the brilliant range of apartments and homes, attracting a diverse range of buyers.

“We’ve already seen the sell-out success of the colony apartments and duplexes – a style of home intrinsic to Edinburgh.

“These townhouses are again so familiar to the city. Yet our design teams have been able to build on everything we love with traditional townhouses; that sense of height, large windows and grand hallways – with modern twists throughout including a first floor private terrace to reflect how we live now.”

On the ground floor, a family room the breadth of the property offers a range of potential uses, while a third bedroom could easily be repurposed into the ultimate home office, boosted with fibre connectivity direct into the home available. A utility room, WC and storage space add further real world practicality.

Upstairs a formal lounge with two Juliet balconies is just a few steps from a contemporary open-plan kitchen and dining area. This space is made even more impressive with sliding glass doors to a copious, first floor terrace, which also provides a cover for the private parking space below, with many offering south facing aspects to maximise sunlight.

The top floor is reserved for two impressive, near mirror-image en suite bedrooms, both exceeding five by three metres and including built in storage and their own private Juliet balconies. The en suites suit every preference, with one offering a bath and the other a shower.

Further to the balconies and the spacious terrace, a low-maintenance garden means the home offers easy living that blends inside and outside space across all its levels.

Ewan McIntyre, Managing Director with EMA Architecture and Design, who designed the homes in partnership with CALA’s in-house teams, said: “It’s a real privilege to be able to work with CALA on a site as special as this. CALA’s particular approach has enabled us to design a broad range of high quality and innovative family homes for the site, including these townhouses.

“The opportunity to design homes for families to live in a waterside setting in Edinburgh is very rare and we’re proud of what we’ve been able to achieve here.”

Set in the heart of the thriving Leith shoreline, recently crowned the Best Place to Live in Scotland by The Sunday Times, Waterfront Plaza benefits from a range of vibrant bars, cafes and restaurants, as well as all the amenities of Ocean Terminal which is situated directly opposite.

The development follows on from nearby successful projects by CALA at Albert Dock, Trinity Park and Ten Brunswick Road.

Accessing the capital city centre is made easy with regular bus services and cycle paths. By car, the M8, M9 and the A90 are all within easy reach via the city bypass.

Celebrations as milestone “first-stretch” of path gets underway

LOCALS and visitors to Gullane are a big step closer to enjoying a safe, four-mile pathway to the nearest railway station thanks to the actions of a major homebuilder.

For 15 years the Drem-Gullane Path Campaign has been calling for an off-road path to take pedestrians and cyclists away from the busy B1377 and has built widespread support from a cross-section of the community.

Now the group has cause for long-awaited celebration, with the first stretch of the path officially underway, courtesy of CALA Homes (East), at its Marine Rise development in the village.

In the coming weeks CALA will build the first quarter mile, of a one mile stretch starting from the corner of Fenton Road and Main Street, eventually stretching the length of the C111 to West Fenton.

CALA is simultaneously progressing plans for the remaining first phase, with the path also continuing on land at upcoming developments Fentoun Meadow and Saltcoats.

Jordon McKenna, Site Manager at CALA’s Marine Rise development in Gullane, said: “As a responsible developer, we want to be able to bring benefit to the wider community.

“This path will be a precious resource for locals and visitors. Credit to the campaign group for its persistence and patience, we’re thrilled to be able to play a role in this tangible first build.

“While we’re still advancing plans for the remainder of the first phase to West Fenton, we must also thank the work and engagement of the various landowners whose land it will traverse – including Luffness Estate and West Fenton farms.”

Spokesperson for the campaign, Iain Monk, said: “We are delighted to finally see the diggers moving in to start work on the first section of the path. This is a significant milestone for our 15-year campaign, which commands widespread support across the community.

“Pedestrians and cyclists should be able to travel safely between Drem and Gullane, free from the busy and dangerous main road.

The Drem-Gullane path will transform our coastal communities and the lives of the people who live in them. It will also attract visitors to the area, which will be good news for local shops, pubs and restaurants.”

The tangible progress has also been welcomed by local politicians from across the political spectrum.

Kenny MacAskill, MP for East Lothian, said: “This is great news. Safe, family-friendly active travel options are essential for both commuters and citizens alike. This new pathway will be good for the health of local residents and our environment. Campaigners, CALA and local landowners are to be commended for making it happen.

“After declaring a climate emergency seven months ago, East Lothian Council must act now and ensure the remaining sections of the path to Drem are delivered as a matter of urgency.”

Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, said: “I have always supported the campaign for the development of a safe, off-road path linking Gullane and Drem, so I am pleased to welcome the start of work on constructing this stretch of cycle/footpath from Gullane to West Fenton.

“This has come about as a result of positive collaboration between CALA Homes and local campaigners and will offer a new option for active travel in the area as well as supporting local businesses. I commend those who have worked hard to secure it and look forward to the benefits it will bring.”

The benefits of the path’s construction to local businesses has been welcomed by the community.

General Manager at The Old Clubhouse Bar and Restaurant, Dominic Campanile, said: “The Old Clubhouse is delighted to see construction start on a one-mile path from Gullane to West Fenton. As a local business, we are in no doubt about the positive economic impact it will have on the area.

“It will be a fantastic asset for the community and we want to tap into the thriving cycle and walking tourism sector. Attracting more visitors to the area will be good for all the businesses in Gullane.”

To take a look at CALA’s available properties in Gullane, please visit: https://www.cala.co.uk/gullane

CALA’s Mark triumphs at London awards

AN EDINBURGH project manager has won a top industry accolade at a prestigious national awards ceremony in London.

Mark Foley, of CALA Homes (East) took home the esteemed “Multi-Storey Building” award after representing Scotland at the National House Building Council (NHBC) Pride in the Job Supreme Awards, at the Park Plaza Hotel in Westminster.

This year’s judging process began with the assessment of thousands of site and project managers from across the UK and culminated in only four Supreme Award winners.

Mark, 49, faced tough competition from projects in York, Poole and London but his work on the UNESCO-accredited site, The Crescent at Donaldson’s, stood out against his competitors.

This success follows Mark’s win in the qualifying heats of the NHBC ‘Pride in the Job’ Quality Awards in July and Regional Awards in October 2019, after impressing a team of inspectors during a series of rigorous and unscheduled visits to the development.

As well as undergoing spot checks of the day-to-day running of their sites, each Site Manager is assessed across 37 different areas of site management, including technical knowledge, quality and consistency.

Mark is CALA’s most decorated project manager with 13 Pride in the Job awards, alongside nine Seal of Excellences and two regional awards.

Mark said: “Delivering excellent quality for customers is what most site teams strive for and for our work at The Crescent to be recognised by the NHBC at the Supreme Awards is a real privilege and without doubt, the highlight of my career.

“Having the opportunity to work on such a prestigious site, with this level of architectural design, makes it all the more exciting.

“While my name is on the award, I want to make sure that it is appreciated how much of a team effort this is, and it couldn’t have been achieved without the amazing team I have working alongside me.

“I was immensely proud of the whole team at the Regional awards, but to make it to the Supreme Awards, and come out victorious, is a dream come true.”

Kevin Whitaker, Chief Executive Officer of CALA Homes, said: “The Pride in the Job awards recognise the industry’s best site managers and the exceptional contribution they make in creating homes of outstanding quality.

“The Supreme Award is the very highest accolade that a site manager can receive and we are extremely proud of Mark for this fantastic achievement.

“This award doesn’t just represent success for Mark, however, but for the entire team at CALA Homes East, who all play a vital role in ensuring that this unique and complex architectural design is delivered safely and to the highest quality standards for not only our customers, but also the wider Edinburgh community, on what is a very important site for the City.”

Steve Wood, NHBC Chief Executive, said: “Through Pride in the Job, NHBC has been celebrating the best of the best in house building for almost 40 years.

“There is no doubt that these awards have been instrumental in driving up the quality of new homes and results show that Pride in the Job winning sites have higher levels of customer satisfaction.

“The final stage of this competition is tough, so to earn the highest accolade of Supreme winner a site manager must have successfully managed a wide range of competing demands and challenges.

“Their determination and success in achieving excellence deserves recognition. More importantly, site managers like Mark are creating high quality outstanding homes that their customers can have confidence in – they are building the future. Congratulations, Mark.”

Designed by architect, Richard Murphy OBE, The Crescent mirrors the curve of the traditional New Town homes it finds itself inspired by.

Situated in the tranquil grounds of the iconic Donaldson’s estate, homes at The Crescent offer the convenience of capital living with an authentic rural feel with expansive views of the Pentland Hills.

The final remaining homes in the development’s west wing have not long been available and offer a range of sizes – from one-bedroom apartments to a deluxe penthouse – to cater for any potential buyers from £595,000 – £1,750,000.

For more information, or to register interest in the Crescent development visit: www.cala.co.uk/the-crescent or call 0131 341 2667.

Strong colony sales followed with launch of new Waterfront apartments

A MODERN take on a style of home intrinsic to Edinburgh has proven its enduring appeal, helping sales surge at a new destination development.

After selling out all 21 colonies less than six months after launching Waterfront Plaza, CALA Homes (East) is now bringing to market a selection of modern two and three-bedroom apartments at its flourishing Leith development. Continue reading Strong colony sales followed with launch of new Waterfront apartments

Sales record set for East of Scotland homebuilder

A STRONG summer performance and a broad range of homes available has helped a developer’s east of Scotland regional team secure more than 100 reservations within a single quarter.

CALA Homes (East), which is currently selling homes in East Lothian, Midlothian and Edinburgh achieved its record three month period in July-September, with an average selling price of close to £450,000.

Key to the developer achieving its highest ever total was a run of reservations at its flagship development The Crescent, the sweeping arc of glass-fronted apartments in the grounds of Edinburgh’s famous Donaldson’s College – with sales exceeding £20 million.

In addition, its Waterfront Plaza development in Leith launched in July and became one of its fastest selling sites ever, with 16 homes sold in the first two weeks alone.

Philip Hogg, Sales and Marketing Director for CALA Homes (East), said: “We have some truly excellent projects on offer at the moment. 

“This is tempting buyers with everything from modern apartments for first time buyers through to some of the largest newly-built five bedroom homes on the market.

“In addition, it’s clear that buyers have reacted positively to a range of purchaser incentives available, to take much of the stress out of a home move.

“This includes our up to 100% Part Exchange, which can help buyers to act swiftly and secure their dream home within a development.”

The strong showing wasn’t just the preserve of the Scottish capital. In Midlothian, CALA completed its final sale at Mayburn Park in Straiton and enjoyed the successful launch of a new development in Penicuik, Belwood Oaks, with a number of homes reserved in the opening weeks.

In East Lothian, its North Berwick development, Law Gardens, continued to attract buyers, with strong sales at Castle Bay near Dunbar (top) and Haddington’s Letham Views.

In Gullane, it reached key milestones at two of its developments, with more than 60% of Fentoun Green sold and 40% of homes reserved at its award-winning restoration of Henderson House, part of its Marine Rise development.

Philip added: “We’re delighted with the reception our developments have received and encourage buyers to act quickly if they are looking to secure a home this year or early into 2020.”

For more information on CALA’s developments in the east of Scotland, please visit www.cala.co.uk/eastscotland 

The Crescent comes alive with first apartments all sold

THE MOST upmarket collection of new apartments to launch in Scotland’s recent history has become a fully-fledged community, with the first “core” fully sold and buyers moving in.  

Launched by CALA Homes (East), The Crescent at Donaldson’s is a bold and sweeping arc of glass-fronted apartments – with current availability priced from £975,000 to £1,750,000. Continue reading The Crescent comes alive with first apartments all sold

Edinburgh’s most expensive apartment now available for rent

A £1.7m penthouse – the jewel in the crown of The Crescent by CALA Homes (East), a luxury development within Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage Site – is now available to rent.

It is anticipated the three-bedroom apartment, which overlooks Donaldson’s School, will be available for upwards of £5k per month.  Continue reading Edinburgh’s most expensive apartment now available for rent

Green light for redevelopment of historic capital school

PLANNING permission has been approved for the sensitive re-development of one of south Edinburgh’s best-known buildings and site of a former school for the blind.

Proposals from premium homebuilder CALA Homes will breathe new life into what was once Edinburgh’s Royal Blind School at Craigmillar Park. Continue reading Green light for redevelopment of historic capital school

Exclusive development unveils Scotland’s largest electric vehicle provision

A MAJOR developer is “plugging in” to the surging demand for electric vehicles (EVs) by creating the most comprehensive charging provision of any development built to date in Scotland. Continue reading Exclusive development unveils Scotland’s largest electric vehicle provision